I see lots of people try to use Sam Bradford as an example to start Blaine Gabbert, and it's one of the most shortsighted things I've ever seen written/said. Just stop, please. They're not in the same situation. Both QBs were spread guys in college, but when the Rams drafted Bradford, he was the number one pick; the consensus top player in the draft and a pro-ready talent. They also had some guy named Kieth Null quarterbacking their team, so it's not like they could have done any worse with Bradford than they already had.

OK, now that I'm done twisting Alfie's words to my devilish whims, I do have a legitimate point to make.

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For the third year in a row, Gene Smith has gone to the "small school" well for some of his draft picks. For the third year in a row, it's garnered much hand wringing from some Jacksonville Jaguars fans. If you listen to local Jacksonville sports talk radio, you'd get the sense that if the Jaguars don't draft a player from the SEC or ACC, it's considered taking someone from a "small school". I remember last year when the Jaguars selected Tyson Alualu10th overall, there were complaints about him being from a small school (Cal.. in the Pac-10) and I just had to laugh.

Am I afraid Gene Smith is going to go to the "small school" well one to many times? Sure, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get upset about it before the players hit the field.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to specialize in drafting "unknown" players in the NFL Draft. It was no different for the majority of the 2011 NFL Draft. Their pick in the first round however, most of us know. Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert was widely considered as the best overall quarterback in this year's draft class. Most also didn't expect him to fall all the way to the 10th overall pick. I was able to catch up with Dave Matter, Missouri beat writer for The Columbia Daily Tribune and pick his brain a bit about Gabbert.

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Since the Jacksonville Jaguars seem to specialize in drafting "unknown players", I felt it necessary to try and get some information on the players for the readers so that we can "know" them. I was able to catch up with Adam Sparks from BlueRaiders.com and a Middle Tennessee State beat writer, to ask some questions about the Jaguars fifth round pick.

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While typically draft grades are silly, I like the ones that SBNation.com typically does. Not just because they're my employer, but because I know who writes them and I know he does his research. Also, they gave the Jacksonville Jaguars a favorable grade in their 2011 NFL Draft Grades and that goes a long way. I'm easily bought.

Jacksonville Jaguars: B
Moving up six slots to take Blaine Gabbert and stash him behind David Garrard for a year or two was a low-risk, high-reward decision. Their next two picks - both from small schools - look smart, as well, as guard Will Rackley and receiver Cecil Shorts are serious talents that should develop into starters. The only problem here is that the Jaguars still don't have that stud pass rusher that they need to harass the likes of Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub. Otherwise, job well done.

 Kudos to Brian Galliford for actually knowing who Will Rackley and Cecil Shorts III are, as most don't.

As sports fans, we all do plenty of silly things. We cheer and we scream; we love our team team and we hate all the other ones. We idolize some players and villainize others, often without reason. I know as a Jaguars fan that my hatred of Peyton Manning borders on being completely irrational. Some fans risk life and limb to stand shirtless in the crowd with their chests painted their teams' colors just to show the pride they feel for their team. Some fans even feel extreme enough about their fandom that they fly off the handle and make serious mistakes. I'm thinking specifically of the tree poisoning incident at Auburn. But all of the silly and ridiculous things that sports fans do pale in comparison to the most bizarre practice in all of sports: NFL Draft Grades.

Let me get this out of the way right now: I never have and never will like draft grades, nor will I ever write them myself.

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Unlike after most drafts, Sunday is filled with reports of undrafted free agents signing with various teams and all of us trying to peg which one is the "sleeper" undrafted guy. This year unfortunately, because a temporary stay of the lockout was granted, free agents are sitting around just waiting. It stinks for two reasons. First it stinks because of all of these guys work their tail off knowing they're likely going undrafted and they can't get rewarded for all that hard work just yet. Secondly, it's typically a huge traffic day... but that's a selfish reason.

Anyways, who are some undrafted free agents the Jaguars could target?

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